Information on Special Areas

In Physical Education, students will get to learn and participate in a wide range of activities.  Our goals are to build and develop students’ motor skills and social skills, as well as introduce the concept of living a healthy and active lifestyle.  Students are required to wear sneakers and comfortable clothing on the two days of the week they come to Physical Education. 

Library

The Library Media Center is an integral part of the educational program at Sousa Elementary School.  Our mission is to provide a nurturing environment that empowers our students to become critical thinkers and life-long learners through the effective use of information in its various formats.  We strive to support and enrich the school curriculum and standards by providing students and teachers with a wide range of timely materials and services.  This includes both fiction and non-fiction, print and digital.

Our goal is to present each student the opportunity to develop an appreciation of various types of literature and create a lifelong love of reading.  To do so, all students, attend library class weekly for forty minutes.  Lessons scaffold up from nursery rhymes to internet research skills.  Ten minutes of class time is allotted for individual book selection.  Grades K-2 may borrow one book a week.  Grades 3-5 may borrow two.  All students are encouraged to borrow new books weekly or more as desired.  Help to find that perfect book is available through student book reviews or the Teacher Librarian’s assistance and advice.

In addition, Sousa Library hosts and collaborates on many wonderful events.  We work not only with the HSA’s Friends of the Library, Cultural Arts, and Literacy Committees to host bookmark creation events, book fairs and guest readers, but also with the Port Washington Public Library and Dolphin Bookshop to bring in authors and illustrators  and many other fun literacy based activities.

Sousa Library supports our students along their path to the identification of information needs and the location and evaluation of that information.  With these skills our students will become problem solvers, self-reliant, and responsible citizens of our community.

The art program at Sousa is designed to support students' self-expression, artistic development and creative thinking.  We do this by exploring a wide variety of media such as ceramics, painting, printmaking, and drawing with a strong emphasis on experimentation and process. Students also learn through careful observation of the masterworks of great artists.

Sousa Instrumental Music Program

We are extremely proud of the high quality of the Sousa instrumental music program! 

Participating in the instrumental program is encouraged, but optional.  Students will participate in a weekly rehearsal and/or group lesson.  The program will culminate in many concerts and performance opportunities, as described below.  Students will be expected to practice on a regular basis, which will allow them to flourish as musicians.

Grade 3

String Program: Violin, Viola, or Cello

During June of second grade, the string teacher will demonstrate the violin, viola, and cello to all students.  A notice will go home at this time regarding the string program sign­up procedure.  Students wishing to play the bass are encouraged to speak to the string teacher.

Grade 4

String Program:​ The students will continue the string program, as described above.

Band Program:​ Flute, oboe, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, tuba, and percussion (includes mallet and snare).  Students wishing to play percussion must demonstrate rhythmic aptitude and the ability to keep a steady beat.  A limited number of students will be selected for percussion.  During June of third grade, the band teacher will demonstrate all of the instruments to all students.  A notice will go home at this time regarding the band program sign­up procedure.

Grade 5

Band and String Program: Students continue in group lessons and weekly band and orchestra rehearsals. Students will participate in several performances including a Winter Concert, All ­District Festival, and Spring Concert, as well as other performing opportunities throughout the year.

Instrumental Rental

Students will need to rent an instrument from a reputable music retailer. Purchasing an instrument is discouraged until a student is ready to make a long­ term commitment to their chosen instrument. Often this decision is appropriately made during middle school or high school.

Renting an instrument allows for students to begin on a quality instrument and assures proper sizing for string instruments.  It also allows for easier access to repairs and other related services available through local retailers.  If you decide to purchase an instrument, contact your child’s music teacher in advance. They will provide you with a purchasing guide with general suggestions that will help you avoid poor quality instruments.

Internet Purchasing

Purchasing an instrument on the internet is highly discouraged.  There have been many challenging issues with these instruments; overall poor workmanship on many instruments, as well as an inability to return or exchange items.  Instruments must be authentic in color and structure (i.e. no purple violins, green trumpets, etc.).  Once again, contact your child’s music teacher before purchasing any instrument. 

General Music and the Sousa Choral Program

All students take a weekly classroom (“general”) music instruction, from kindergarten through grade five.  The program provides a structure for children to learn the basics of singing, playing rhythm and melodic instruments, reading music notation, composing and moving to music.  In addition, students gain an appreciation for the rich diversity of music both across cultures and over historical time periods.  There is a strong emphasis on participatory, hands-on learning and creativity.

In third grade general music, students will be introduced to basic choral skills in Beginner Chorus and participate in the Recorder Karate Program.  The recorder is an excellent tool for all students to learn how to read and perform music at an early age. The third grade Beginner Chorus and Recorder Ensemble performs at the Beginner Concert in June.

In fourth and fifth grade, all students meet once a week during the regular school day for chorus.  The chorus program gives each child the opportunity to feel the joy of singing in a large group.  Emphasis is placed on good posture, proper breathing, improved diction, production of a pleasant tone, and blending with others.  This musical experience also emphasizes following instructions, which teaches the child respect for the music, better listening skills and team effort.

The Sousa Chorus performs each year at the Winter Concert in December and the Spring Concert in May. The fifth grade chorus also performs at their Moving Up Ceremony in June. 

Students demonstrating elevated interest and skill in singing are eligible to participate in the All District Chorus. Students selected from each of the elementary schools learn a program which is presented in the spring.  In addition to the All District Festival, Port Washington participates in the All County Music Festival held in January.

Performance Opportunities

All­ District Elementary Music Festival:​ Select 5th grade students from each of the five elementary schools participate in district-wide band, orchestra, and chorus.  These ensembles traditionally perform at Schreiber High School in the spring.

NMEA All­ County: ​A small representation of students from the band, orchestra, and chorus are selected to participate in a county­wide ensemble usually around the first week in January.  Students must participate in the school ensemble in order to be eligible.  These students are selected by NMEA (Nassau Music Educators Association) primarily based upon the previous year’s NYSSMA solo results.

LISFA (Long Island String Festival Association): ​A small representation of string students are selected to participate in the LISFA orchestra.  Students must participate in the school ensemble in order to be eligible. These students are selected by LISFA primarily based upon the previous year’s NYSSMA solo results.

NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Solo Festival: ​Students may elect to perform a solo piece selected from the official NYSSMA manual.  Students who participate in the NYSSMA solo festival often have help from a private teacher, although this is not required.  Students are evaluated by an adjudicator who will provide written comments and a numerical rating.  NYSSMA participation is the key factor in determining All­ County and LISFA selections.  Information about NYSSMA registration will be sent home with students in January. Please contact your child’s music teacher if you do not receive the NYSSMA registration materials by the end of January.  Please note that students may participate on more than one instrument/voice (i.e. trombone, piano, voice, etc.).